Inter-Institutional Maritime Operations Centre (IMOC)

The customer

The Inter-institutional Maritime Operations Centre (IMOC) is
tasked with the management of Albanian maritime space. Based in
Plepa, Durrës, it controls Albanian maritime borders and ensures
the safety of life at sea and compliance with national and
international maritime legislation. A range of government agencies
participate in the operations of IMOC, from Border Police and
Customs to the Navy, Coast Guard and Fishery
Inspectorate.

The challenge

Albania's coastline is around 476 km (296 miles) long. IMOC
needed a secure inter-/intra-agency radio communications network,
capable of supporting high volumes of data traffic, to provide
coverage for the whole of the coastal area. The organisation
required network infrastructure, including base stations and
associated switching elements; command and control room solutions;
and mobile and hand-portable radios.

The solution

The European Union (EU), on behalf of the Government of Albania
and IMOC, chose to adopt eXTRAS infrastructure because of its
reliability and high levels of system availability, as well as its
powerful voice and data services. eXTRAS FR400 base stations were
ordered to provide coverage throughout the coastal area.

Since the system is used primarily by public safety agencies,
the built-in security that TETRA offers was another key factor in
the decision, with TETRA Air Interface Encryption (TEA) providing
highly secure communications throughout the area.

A multi-agency dispatch system - allowing operators to
communicate with field-based staff using a combination of voice and
data, and track vehicles and personnel via a geo-location mapping
system - was also installed at IMOC's command and control centre in
Durrës.